Clip for wallboards



Dec. 24, 1940. H. H. BURSON 2,226,368

CLIP FOR WALLBOARDS Filed April 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet l W4 25 v ,m

Dec. 24, 1940. H. H. BURSON CLIP FOR WALLB OARDS Filed April 29, 1958 3She ets-Sheet 2 Dec. 24, 1940. H. H. BURSON 2,226,368

CLIP FOR WALLBOARDS Filed April 29, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A, v llllllllljl7lll l/llllll yllll Patented Dec. 24, 1 940 UNITED STATES o -rr FORwALL oARns Harry H. Burson, Chicago, 111., assignor to I Norman C".Spong, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 29, 1938, Serial No. 205,017 13 Claims. 01. 72 -118)This invention relates to metallic clips employed for the purpose ofsecuring sections of wallboard to a wall surface in spaced relationthereto, and in particular to the construction and arrangement of theclips in such a way as to permit them to be interlocked together whennecessary to provide for the attachment of the wallboard in corners orintersections so as to afford a firm and rigid mounting.

The invention also relates to the use of an interlocking plateinconjunction with the clips to permit two or more clips, to beinterlocked with the plate in such a way as to bring the individualclips into properly spaced relation to one another at a corner orintersection, thereby permitting various arrangements to be made inorder to meet the special requirements of localized conditions incorners or intersections.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the clips ina form to use alongintermediate sections of a wall;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the same clip with a number of the endtongues bent outwardly to afford means for effecting an interlockbetween the clips at the corners;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of a wall corner showing the clips ininterlocking relation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; v I

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the method of stag-v gering the wallboardsections at the corners;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of construction;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing one of the tongues slotted and bentoutwardly, as employed in interlocking the clips at the corners;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan view of a wall showing one method ofinterlocking at the corners;

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of modified forms of complementaryclips adapted to interlock with one another. v

Fig. 11 is aplan view of the interlocking plate for mounting severalclips in properly spaced relation to one another; and

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the manner of using theinterlocking plate with three or more of the clips to make provision fora wall intersection. v

The clip shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive comprises a verticallyelongated hanger plate having along each side edge an obliquely disposedwing 2|, which is provided with a recess 22 in its free edge, thearrangement being such that when the hanger stands vertically against abrick wall 23 the recessed edges of the wings only will .make

contact with the'wall surfacathe body portion of the hanger standingoutwardly therefrom.

The body 20 is provided with a. vertically disposed row of apertures 24into a selected one of.

which may be entered a nail 25 which is driven into one of the mortarjoints in the brick wall to hold the hanger in position. By providing aplurality of apertures it will always be possible to find one which willsubstantially register with a mortar joint.

The hanger at its lower end terminates in an outwardly'rounded neck 26which connects with a transversely extending channel header 21 providedat its outer ends with downwardly struck tongues 28 and provided at anintermediate portion with upwardly struck tongues 29, which lower andupper tongues in conjunction afford channels for the contiguous edges ofwallboard sections 3030 which are entered in position as indicated inFig. 4. I

The above description applies to the use of the device alongintermediate sections of the wall, but at the corners it is necessary tomake provision for interlocking the adjacent clips on the angularlydisposed wall sections, and for this purpose one of the clips has thetongues 28 at one end of the header plate bent outwardly to aiiord thearms 28 of a T-shaped interlocking member which is adapted to lie withinthe upper channel afforded by the tongues 29 of the companion clip, asshown in Fig. 3.

By properly spacing the clip which receives the interlocking member withrelation to the wall surfaces within the corner, the inner end of thereceiving clip may be made to contact the surface of the wall to whichthe interlocking member is secured, so that a firm and rigid cornerstructure will be afforded for the reception of the ends of thewallboard sections, thereby holding the wallboard sections in properlyspaced relation from the brick base wall in the corners.

In order to further strengthen the structure of the corners it isdesirable to stagger the ends of the wallboard sections as shown in Fig.5, so that the alternating edges will overlap and rest upon one anotherto afford a more firm and rigid union than would otherwise be possible.By bringing these alternately extended sections into actual contact withthe brick backing walls, the corner throughout will be fully reinforced.The channeled construction of the hangers not only affords greaterstiffness and rigidity but also permits the hangers to be drawn down bythe nails in such a way as to spread slightly, thereby securing a firmedge contact with the brickwork, thus holding the hangers firmlythereto, despite irregularities in the wall surface.

The particular form of hanger shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is provided with avertically elongated hanger body with the nailing apertures disposed ina vertical'row, which is a convenient form of construction for use whereit is necessary to nail into the horizontally extending mortar joints;but where it .is desired to nail into the vertical mortar joints, theform of construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7 may be found moredesirable. In this form the hanger 3| is provided with laterallyextending arms 32, giving to the hanger a T- shaped construction, whichis provided with a horizontally disposed row of nailingi apertures 33,which may be selectively employed in nailing into the vertical mortarjoints.

The hanger 3i is connected by a neck 34 with a channel header 35, havingouter tongues 36 struck upwardly therefrom and inner tongues 31 struckdownwardly therefrom. Although this form of construction may beinterlocked at the corners by bending down the tongues 35 to afford aT-shaped interlocking connection of the character shown in Fig. 2, it isalso possible to afford an interlock of the special form shown in Fig.'7. In this instance the tongue 36a is bent outwardly to afford anL-shaped construction and provided with a slot 38 which is adapted topermit the interlocking tongue 36a to be slipped over and engaged withone of the tongues 36 in the contiguous clip at the corner, as shown inFig. 8.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a form of corner construction which includes anupright post or studding 39 which has two of the clips nailed to itsinner or left hand face in order to make provision for the reception ofwallboard sections which lie adjacent to the face of the studding, andcompanion Wallboard sections which extend at right angles inwardlytherefrom in order to provide the two separated faces of a partitionwall.

In this instance it will be noted that the interlocked slotted clipseach presents its slotted arm inwardly which gives a correspondingspacing to the sections of the partition wall, but if these two clipswere reversed, so that in each instance the slotted arm were presentedoutwardly, it would be possible to reduce the spacing of the partitionwall section. This circumstance, coupled with the fact that Variationsin the nailing of the clips to the studding are permitted by theselective use of a plurality of nailing apertures, permits a wide rangeof variations in the spacing of the clips to accommodate partition wallsof varying thickness. face of the studding I have illustrated the use ofa single clip without the interlocking features, since on this side noangularly disposed partition Wall is present.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a further variation in the method of affordingan interlock. In this instance one of the outer tongues M) is providedwith a hooked terminal finger 4| which is adapted to hook into anaperture 42 in the companion clip, the parts being so disposed that whenso interlocked the clips will stand at right angle relation to oneanother with the tongue 40 occupying the space between the upstandingtongues 36 of the companion clip. In other respects the constructionlast described is the same as that shown in Figs. 6 and '7. Although theclips shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are illustrated as in use with awooden studding or the like, the nailing apertures provide the means forsecuring the clips to brick base walls of the character shown in Fig. 3,so that it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the useof the clips in any certain particular manner, since they all may bevariously employed to meet the conditions encountered in actualstructural work, especially where it is necessary to make provision foran interlock at the corners.

The above description applies to corner inter locks which can beprovided for by the interlock- On the opposite or right hand ing of theclips with-one another, but conditions are frequently encountered whichrequire the provision of a more elaborate interlock in order to soposition and space the clips at corners or intersections that provisionmay be made for the reception of the wallboard sections. In such casesit is desirable to employ an interlocking plate 43 of the charactershown in Figs. 11 and 12, which furnishes a mounting for several of theclips which may be selectively arranged in various ways to makeprovision for wall intersections or abutments of various kinds.

The interlocking plate as shown is formed of relatively stiff platemetal of elongated formation and configured along its edges to interlockwith the clips in various ways. To meet these requirements, theinterlocking plate at each end is provided with a longitudinallyprojecting T-shaped locking head 44 connected with the body of the plateby a neck 45 of reduced diameter. The outer edge of the plate islikewise provided with two outer T-shaped locking heads 46 and a centerlocking head 41, each connected with the edge of the body by a neck 45of reduced diameter.

The edge of the plate, adjacent the lateral locking heads, is beveledaway to afford the nec essary clearance, and the width of each of thenecks 45 is such as to permit the clips heretofore described to beengaged with the locking head by causing a selected pair of the tonguesto straddle the neck within the space afiorded between the locking headand the adjacent edges of the plate at the base of the neck, in a mannerto be presently described more in detail. a

The locking plate is likewise provided along its inner edge with a pairof notches 48 and opposed slots 49. The spacing of the notches and slotsis such as to permit the upwardly extending tongues of a clip (29 or 36as the case may be) to register with the aligned notches and slots inthe manner shown in Fig. 12, so that one of the clips with its hangermay be employed to support and sustain the interlocking plate with thetongues extending above the plate to afford channels for the receptionof the edges of wallboard sections.

In Fig. 12 I have shown the interlocking plate mounted upon andsupported by a clip of the particular character shown in Fig. 6, but itwill be understood that, by a suitable spacing of the notches 48 andslots 49, provision can be made for the use of a clip of the particularform shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as the supporting member for theinterlocking plate. With the plate thus supported, provision is made forthe mounting of several of the clips in various ways to meet specialconditions.

At the right hand end of the locking plate I have shown one of the clipsmounted upon the right hand terminal interlocking head 44 with thedepending inner tongues 31 straddling the neck and with the clipcentrally mounted and extending transversely at the end of the lockingplate for the reception of upper and lower wallboard-sections extendingin the same transverse direction. Similarly, another clip may be mountedat the left hand near end of the interlocking plate, which will thusmake provision for the reception of parallel wallboard sections held inspaced relation at a distance substantially equal to the length of theinterlockingplate.

If it is desired to provide for a closer spacing of the wallboardsections, a clip may be mountedon one of the laterally presented lockingheads, and in the present instance I have shown one of the clips mountedupon the middle head 41. In this case, however, the terminal tongues 36are the ones which straddle the neck and present their inner facesflatwise against the edges of the neck instead of presenting their edgesthereto as in the case of the clip mounted at the right hand end of theinterlocking plate. It will thus be noted that where clips are mountedupon the laterally presented locking heads the necks will extendparallel with the channel afforded by the tongues, while in the mountingafforded by the terminal interlocking heads the necks will runtransversely to the channel afforded between the inner faces of thetongues. If desired, the clip instead of being mounted upon the middlehead 41 may be similarly mounted upon the left hand head 46, whichwillof course increase the spacing between the wallboard sections.

The arrangement particularly shown in Fig. 12 permits wallboard sectionsto be mounted between theupperand lower tongues of the clip whichcarries the interlocking plate, so that such wallboard sections will runacross the face of the studding to which the sustaining clip is nailed,while the clips carried by the plate will make provisions for wallboardsections running at an angle to the wallboard sections first mentioned,and the arrangement will permit the right hand wallboard sections to becarried past the studding while the left hand or near end sections abutagainst the sections which lie in closely adacent relation to thestudding. In case any unused portion of the interlocking plate projectsoutwardly to an excessive degree, it can be clipped or sheared off asoccasion may require to prevent its protrusion through the finishedsurface of the wall.

It will also be noted that the spacing of the interlocking heads 45 withrelation to the terminal heads 44 is such that the necks of the heads 56will coact with the heads in affording a notch of the proper-dimensionsto prevent longitudinal displacement of the clips when they are mountedto straddle the interlocking plate in the manner shown. In all. cases,therefore, it is desirable that the spacing of these parts be such as topermit the close fitting of the selected tongues upon the neck of theselected locking head, so that when the parts are interlocked, arelatively firm and rigid mounting will be provided for the reception ofthe edges of the wallboard sections.

The use of the interlocking plate will also proide for the mounting ofclips in cases where no studding is present and where the entire supportis afforded by the intersecting wallboard sections, which method ofconstruction is adaptable to relatively narrow wallboard sections whereadequate.

support is elsewhere afforded. In such cases the manner of employing theinterlocking plate will be fully understood from the precedingdescription, save for the fact that the middle clip, which otherwisewould constitute the supporting clip for the interlocking plate, is notitself nailed to an adjacent studding.

The method of mounting the wallboard sections, whether usedindependently or in conjunction with an interlocking plate, is one whichaffords what is termed a floating connection for the wallboard sections,in that the edges of the sections are socketed within thechannelsafforded by the tongues and are free, to a limitedextent, tomove within the clips and are not positively connected to the studdings,or other structural elements, by nails or the like, which method ofattachment is one which tends greatly to reduce surface cracking, whichfrequently occurs where the wallboard sections are immovably connectedby nailsor otherwise at spaced intervals to the studdings or otherstructural features of the wall.

Experience has shown that a mounting of the character hereprovidedallows for vibration and fora limited amount of expansion andcontraction in the wall surface, which reduces the tendency to crack, ina very marked degree.

Although the clips are primarily constructed for the purpose ofsocketing the wallboard sections, the device is one which may beadvantageously used for the mounting of metal laths, which may besecured to the hanger plate by wiring or in any other convenient manner,which will enable the metal laths to be supported and held in spacedrelation to the base wall surface, and where in the claims I refer tothe use of the clips as supports for wallboard sections it will beunderstood that metal lathing may be substituted as an equivalenttherefor.

It will also be understood that although I have shown severalmodifications in form and arrangement of the clip and as illustrative ofits manner of use,. it is not the intention to limit the invention tothe particular form shown, since additional modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

' 1. A clip for wallboard sections formed of sheet metal and bent toprovide a hanger section adapted to be secured to a wall or the like,and a channel section extending outwardly from the end of the hangersection and at right angles to the plane of the hanger section andprovided with.

tongues extending at right angles fromthe edges of the channel sectionand adapted to engage the edge of a wallboard section, at least one ofthe tongues at one end of the channel section being projected outwardlyin the plane of the channel section and adapted to lie at least in partwithin the space between a pair of tongues of a companion clip inaffording interlocked clips for the reception of wallboard sections atthe corner of a wall structure.

2. A clip for wallboard sections formed of sheet metal and comprising ahanger section having a row of nailing apertures and having obliquelydisposed marginal wings adapted to provide edge contact with a wallstructure, and a channel section extending transversely at the base ofthe hanger section, the channel section having pairs of intermediatetongues extending in one vertical direction and pairs of terminaltongues extending in the other vertical direction for the reception ofcontiguous edges of wallboard sections.

3. A clip for wallboard sections formed of sheet metal and comprising ahanger section having a row of nailing apertures and having obliquelydisposed marginal wings adapted to provide edge contact with a wallstructure, and a channel section extending transversely at the base ofthe hanger section, the channel section having pairs of intermediatetongues extending in one vertical direction and pairs of terminaltongues extending in the other vertical direction for the reception ofcontiguous edges of wallboard sections, the terminal tongues of one ofthe sections being adapted to be bent outwardly to afford a T-shapedinterlocking member, the arms of which are adapted to lie between theintermediate tongues of a companion clipin the provision of clip meansfor receiving wallboard sections in cornerwise arrangement.

4. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of a pairof clips each comprising a hanger portion adapted to be secured to aportion of the basic wall structure constituting a cornor and eachhaving at the lower end of the hanger portion a channel portionconsisting of a header provided with pairs of intermediate tonguesextending in one vertical direction and each having at least one pair ofterminal tongues extending in the opposite vertical direction, one ofthe clips having terminal tongues extending laterally to afford aT.shaped interlocking member and interlocked with the companion clip bylocating the arms of the T-shaped member within the space between thepairs of intermediate tongues of the companion clip member, andwallboard sections having their contiguous edges entered within thechannels afforded by the tongues and standing in cornerwise relationwithin the interlocked companion clips.

5. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of a pairof clips each comprising a hanger portion adapted to be secured to aportion of the basic wall structure constituting a corner and eachhaving at the lower end of the hanger portion a channel portionconsisting of a header provided with pairs of intermediate tonguesextending in one vertical direction and each having at least one pair ofterminal tongues extending in the opposite vertical direction, one ofthe clips having terminal tongues extending laterally to afford aT-shaped interlocking member and interlocked with the companion clip bylocating the arms of the T-shaped member within the space between thepairs of intermediate tongues of the companion clip member, andwallboard sections having their contiguous edges entered within thechannels afforded by the tongues and standing in cornerwise relationwithin the interlocked companion clips, alternate ends of the angularlydisposed wallboard sections standing in staggered relation to oneanother to afford additional vertical edge support for the wallboardsections.

6. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided in its end with a T-shaped interlocking headconnected by a neck of reduced diameter, and a clip provided withtongues struck therefrom to afford channels for the reception of theedges of Wallboard sections, said clip being interlocked with the headof the interlocking plate and with adjacent tongues embracing the neckthereof.

7. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided in its end with a T-shaped interlocking headconnected by a neck of reduced diameter, and a clip provided withtongues struck therefrom to afford channels for the reception of theedges of wallboard sections, said clip being interlocked with the headof the interlocking plate and with adjacent tongues embracing the neckthereof, and a hanger clip having an apertured portion adapted toreceive a nail or the like and a portion having tongues adapted toengage and support the interlocking plate and extend beyond the plane ofthe latter to provide channels for the reception of the edges ofwallboard sections.

8. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided along one of its edges with a T-shapedinterlocking head connected with said edge by a neck of reduceddiameter, and a clip provided with tongues struck therefrom to affordchannels for the reception of the edges of wallboard sections, said clipbeing interlocked with the head of the interlocking plate and withadjacent tongues embracing the neck thereof, and a hanger clip having anapertured portion adapted to receive a nail or the like and a portionhaving tongues adapted to engage and support the interlocking plate andextend beyond the plane of the latter to provide channels for thereception of the edges of wallboard sections.

9. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided with an outwardly projecting interlockinghead connected therewith, and a clip provided with tongues strucktherefrom to afford a channel for the reception of the edge of awallboard section, said clip being interlocked with the head of theinterlocking plate and with adjacent tongues embracing the connectingportion thereof.

10. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided with a laterally projecting interlockinghead connected with said plate, and a clip provided with tongues strucktherefrom to afford a channel for the reception of the edge of awallboard section, said clip being interlocked with said head and withadjacent tongues embracing the connecting portion thereof.

11. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided with an, outwardly projecting interlockinghead connected therewith, and a clip provided with tongues strucktherefrom to afford a channel for the reception of the edge of awallboard section, said clip being interlocked with the head of theinterlocking plate and with adjacent tongues embracing the connectingportion thereof, and a hanger clip having an apertured portion adaptedto receive a nail or the like and a portion having tongues adapted toengage and support the interlocking plate and extend beyond the plane ofthe latter to provide a channel for the reception of the edge of awallboard section.

12. In the construction of a wallboard corner, the combination of aninterlocking plate provided with a laterally projecting interlockinghead connected with said plate, a clip provided with tongues strucktherefrom to afford a channel for the reception of the edge of awallboard section, said clip being interlocked with said head and withadjacent tongues embracing the connecting portion thereof, and a hangerclip having an apertured portion adapted to receive a nail or the likeand a portion havingtongues adapted to engage and support theinterlocking plate and extend beyond the plane of the latter to providea channel for the reception of the edge of a wallboard section.

13. A clip for wallboard sections comprising a hanger section consistingof a body portion having obliquely disposed marginal wings adapted tocontact a wall structure and hold the body portion in spaced relationthereto, the body portion being adapted to receive a wall attachingdevice, and a channel section secured to the hanger section and havingchannel forming members thereon providing a channel for the reception ofthe edge of a wallboard section.

HARRY H. BURSON.

